Washing-machine



(No'ModeL) J E. GRAY. WASHING MACHINE.

No. 334,702. Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

WITNESSES- JJV'VEJV'TOR Jazzms E Juli Attorney:

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OEEICE.

JAMES E. GRAY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,702, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed .Tulyl3, 1885. Serial No. 171,512. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in clothes-pounders; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a clothes-pounder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the valve-tube and valve.

A represents a conical cup, which is made of sheet metal and has an open tube, B, extending vertically through and above it. At a suitable distance above the lower edge ofthe cup is a diaphragm, O, to which the lower end of the tube B extends, thus forming a chamber, D, below the diaphragm of the cup. This chamber is divided into a number of compartments by a series of radial vertical partition-plates, E, the inner edges of which extend nearly to the central. opening formed by the lower end of the tube B. Recesses F are made in the inner upper edges of the partition-plates.

G represents an open-ended tube, which is provided at its lower end with alaterallyextending flange, H, and with a depending bent handle or bail, I, which has outwardlyprojecting lugs K. A cross-bar, L, is at the upper end of tube G, and to this bar is attached the upper end of a coiled retractile spring, M, the lower end of which spring is attached to the center of a circular Valve, N, which rests on the flange H and closes the lower end of the tube G. The sides of the bail I form guides for the valve. The valvetuhe G is inserted in the lower end of the tube B, and is locked in position therein by turning it partly in tube B, so as to cause the lugs K to enter two of the recesses F. By this construction it will be readily understood that the valve-tube may be removed quickly and easily from the pounder and cleaned after use, and

dried thoroughly before replacing it in the tube B, and thus prevent it from being injured by rust.

To opposite sides of the cone, nearthe upper end thereof, are soldered strengthening bracepockets 0, to the upper ends of which are secured vertical cylindrical sockets P, for the lower ends of the vertical wooden bars R. The upper ends of the bars R are connected by the horizontal bar S, the projecting ends of which are formed into handles, as shown.

By providing the brace-pockets O, to which the sockets are secured, the strain is distributed over a very greatly increased portion of the surface of the sides of the cone, thus enabling the latter to withstand the strain, as will be very readily understood.

The operation of my invention is as follows: On the downstroke of the pounder on the clothes in the water in the tub air is compressed below the diaphragm of the cone in the chamber D and forced through the clothes, carrying the water with it, and thereby loosening and removing the dirt from the clothes. On the upstroke of the pounder the valve opens downwardly and admits air to the chamber D, to be again compressedfand forced through the clothes with the water on the ensuing downstroke of the pounder.

I make no claim, broadly, to a clothespounder having a downwardly-opening valve to admit air on the upstroke and to force the same and water through the clothes on the downstroke of the pounder, as this, I am aware, is not new.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination of the cup having the open tube B, the diaphragm, and the vertical radial partition-plates having the recesses F, with the valve-tube having the valve, and the depending bail-handle having lugs to enter recesses F, to lock the valve-tube in the tube B, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. GRAY.

\Iitnesses:

M. B. JoHNsoN, R. W. POMEROY. 

